A Research Proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the
Requirements of the Master of Science Degree in Crop Protection
John Ouma – A56/79099/2012

Europe and North America depends mainly on pelargonium
cuttings imports from Africa (Serek et al,. 1998). This is due
to favourable factors like cheap labour, good climate and
readily available land. Pelargonium cuttings are therefore
rooted and finished in importing countries (Serek et al.,
1998). Therefore pelargonium production provides
employment opportunities for many Kenyans. The climate in
Kenya is dry and due to the high attitude the night
temperatures are rather cold. This means perfect conditions
for the production of pelargonium, perennial and carnation
cuttings. (http://www.selectaworld.com/en/inpractice/production-sites/selecta-kenya.html). Cuttings of
high quality are essential in the highly competitive market.
They must be free from any default or disease. Rhodococcus
fascians is one of the pelargonium diseases.

It is not always very deleterious for many host plants and is
generally considered as mildly pathogenic (Vereecke et al
2000). However in ornamental industry where profit is based
on plants aesthetic, the pathogen causes considerable losses
(Vereecke et al 2000) and should therefore be effectively
controlled. Unfortunately there is no efficient means of
managing R fascians once the crops are affected. This
situation leaves the farmers with only one option: good
sanitation practices to prevent the introduction of the disease
in their crop (Baker 1950; Depuydt et al. 2008). Trichoderma
spp is an antagonistic fungus against many plant pathogens.

It has two important modes of actions - direct suppression of
the pathogen with production of antibiotics substances &
enzymes and strong stimulation of the plants natural defence
mechanism (Harman et al., 2004, Hurtado, 2004; Wasternack
et al., 2006). Saksirirat et al, (2009) demonstrated that
Trichoderma harzianum induced resistance against
Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria spots thereby
reducing the bacterial spots by over 69%. Can T harzianum be
used for effective control of Rhodococcus fascians on
pelargonium? This is the question this project would like to
address by testing the effectiveness of T harzianum in
reducing R fascians incidences on pelargonium production
and other horticultural crops by extension.
To ensure reliable production of high quality
pelargonium cuttings and young plants.
R. fascians has serious quality implication on the
pelargoniu in that all affected plants must be
removed to avoid spreading. There is no known
effective means of controlling this disease once
it affects the crop.

Affected plants were
rogued
Mature gall on
Pelargoniums
Overall Objective
 To manage R fascian in pelargonium
production through use of T harzianum as a
biocontrol agent.
Specific Objectives
To evaluate the effectiveness of T harzianum on
controlling R fascians in pelargonium.
To evaluate the effectiveness of T harzianum to
induce systemic resistance against R fascians in
Pelargonium zonale*.
R fascians do not significantly affect pelargonium
production*.
T harzanium is not effective on the control of R
fascians.
There is no relationship between Concentration
of T harzianum and efficacy.
There is no relationship between application
frequency of T harzianum and efficacy.
A survey to determine the significance of R fascians
on pelargonium Production will be conducted in 2
farms*
Questionnaires will be distributed to 2 farms that
exports Pelargonium in Kenya.
Questionnaires to consider production system,
management practices &size of the farm
Efficacy trials will be conducted at Swani farm - Thika.
Rhodococcus fascians pathogen would be sourced
from a culture kept in a lab* (The bacterium was
tested at Naktunbouw Laboratory in Netherlands and
confirmed to be Rhodococcus fascians)

Pelargonium mother stock for the experiments will be
grown in 4 litre pots and will be sourced from one of
the farms in Kenya. Two varieties of pelargnium will
be tested (), One part of the stock will be treated with
Trichoderm harzianum. Plants to be treated with the
fungi would be drenched at 400 ml (1 part Triaunum:
5 parts water) per pot every week from the date of
potting. 4 weeks later, all the stock treated with T
harzianum and the untreated plants will be inoculated
with R fascians. Plants untreated with T harzianum
would act as the negative control. Treatments would
be replicated 4 times.
Efficacy trial will be repeated in a different site within
the same Farm for confirmation of results.
Number of affected plants would be counted 8 weeks
from the date of R fascian inoculation. Diameter of the
galls will also be measured and compared*.

T. harzianum
R. fascian and T. harzianum

R. fascian


Negative control
Activity
Quantity
Unit cost Ksh
Total cost (Ksh)
Site Fee
1
30000
30000
Data collection expenses &
10000
Labels / Planting material
Subsistence and Travel
2
2000
4000
Printing papers Thesis
1 reams
500
1,000
printing Draft / Final
200 pages
10
2000
Photocopying
200 pages
2
400
Binding
5 copies
50
250
(Draft)
GRAND TOTAL
47, 650
Work Plan 2012/13
2013
Activity
Development of
thesis proposal
Present research
proposal
Research Set up of
experiments
Data collection,
entry and analysis
Compile thesis first
Chapters
Complete
experiments
Data interpretation
– write results
chapter
Compile and
complete thesis
Thesis submission
to BPS
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